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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION <br /> Monday,July 15,2019 <br /> 6:30 o'clock p.m. <br /> deep roots are proposed to be installed on the slope. The applicant's plan has been certified by a <br /> professional engineer. <br /> Retaining walls are not permitted within the lake yard. However,the hardcover associated with the walls <br /> is excluded from the site hardcover totals. Hardcover on the site, with the proposed improvements, will <br /> be below 25 percent. <br /> No public comments have been received in response to this application. <br /> Staff finds practical difficulty in the lake yard slope failure to allow the subterranean retaining wall <br /> system to be installed. <br /> The retaining wall grid system has been signed by a professional engineer. Planning Staff recommends <br /> approval of the variance permitting the subterranean retaining wall grid system to repair and restore the <br /> lake side slope conditioned upon implementation of a landscape plan which creates a natural vegetated <br /> slope over the walls. The applicant has proposed a landscape plan with three varieties of plants. The City <br /> Engineer is requesting some additional certification and more plan details. <br /> Ressler asked if the further detail can be provided prior to the City Council meeting. <br /> Curtis stated that can be included in the Planning Commission recommendation. The City Engineer <br /> would require that as a part of any building permit. <br /> Ressler asked if there is a survey that speaks to any grading changes. <br /> Curtis stated at the time of the survey,the slope had not yet failed, and that there is a general indication of <br /> the area on the survey. Some further detail and clarification is what the City Engineer is looking for as it <br /> relates to the grid system and its location to the adjacent property. The survey says existing boulder walls <br /> in this area and then it says proposed buried retaining walls and refers to the landscaping details. The <br /> City Engineer was unclear as to where the start and stop of the failure was and that the City Engineer has <br /> an expectation the applicant will be able to put together the detail he is asking for. <br /> McCutcheon asked if there were steps in the area where it failed. <br /> Curtis indicated there are stairs on one side and some of that was affected. The photo on the overhead is <br /> from a previous slope failure showing the general area. The stairs were repaired recently and survived this <br /> most recent slope failure for the most part. The repair that was done for the previous failure was tiered <br /> retaining walls, and the bottom of that repair is what failed. <br /> Bollis asked if there was a permit for the previous repair. <br /> Curtis stated the property owner went through a conditional use permit process with the City Council but <br /> that she does not believe the actual permits were followed through with. As a result, Staff does not know <br /> exactly what was done. <br /> Ressler asked if there is any clarity as far as relocating any dirt or bringing in dirt from an outside source. <br /> Curtis suggested the applicant address that. <br /> Page 10 of 17 <br />